Retaining a Federal Criminal Lawyer in New York: The Stakes are High

Federal crimes are serious offenses that the United States government deems illegal. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other government entities investigate these malfeasant acts, and those charged with these types of crimes are prosecuted by federal courts. If you find yourself charged with a federal crime in New York, the stakes are high. Your freedom is at risk, and retaining the services of a federal criminal lawyer could be the difference between freedom and incarceration.

The Federal Crimes Process: A Crucial Legal Process

The federal crimes process is a specific legal process that involves several steps, each one as crucial as the next. When federal prosecutors collect what they feel is substantial evidence that an individual has or is committing a federal offense, they file a complaint. This complaint includes the specific alleged act the suspect is thought to have been committing and the reasons (evidence) needed to convince government authorities that the person in question should be arrested. Once the prosecutors document this information, government authorities put out an arrest warrant and apprehend the suspect in question.

Soon after their arrest, the suspect appears before a judge, who will determine if the government possesses enough evidence to indict said individual and set bond. A bond hearing is typically held within three days of the arrest to determine if the suspect should be free to exit custody provided they can pay bond.

Within no more than 10 days following the alleged perpetrator’s arrest, a federal court will hold an initial hearing at which prosecutors will provide evidence proving the suspect committed the act in question. This procedure also enables the suspect’s attorney, such as the experienced and professional lawyers at Spodek Law Group led by Attorney Todd Spodek, to refute charges. If prosecutors choose to pursue an indictment, the initial evidence is presented to a grand jury. This adjudicating body will ultimately decide whether to grant the indictment.

Should the grand jury grant the indictment, a federal arraignment is held. During this proceeding, formal federal charges are levied against the suspect, the suspect is informed of their rights, the accused enters a guilty or non-guilty plea, and a trial date is established. Should the defendant plead not guilty, the case will be tried in federal court. This proceeding will determine the suspect’s fate. However, in certain instances, the prosecution and defense might agree to a plea deal. If at the conclusion of the trial, an adjudicating body finds the accused guilty, said individual can make an appeal. Appeals must be made within ten days of a guilty verdict.

Why You Need a Knowledgeable and Experienced Legal Team

In the face of federal criminal charges, it’s crucial to have a legal team that is both knowledgeable and experienced in navigating the intricacies of the federal crimes process. Spodek Law Group, led by Attorney Todd Spodek, has a deep understanding of the law and the experience to handle any legal situation. Don’t take any chances with your freedom; retaining a federal criminal lawyer could be the most important decision you make.

Appeals: The Long Road to Legal Redress

The American legal system is built upon the principle of legal redress for criminal and civil issues. Even after a verdict is reached, one can still challenge the judgment through an appeal. But until appellate judges rule otherwise, the trial’s verdict is the law. Appeals are investigations into a trial, based on solid legal grounds such as a violation of the rules of evidence, improper arrest, juror misconduct or tampering, and other issues.

The Appeal Process: Time-Consuming but Necessary

One of the reasons appeals cases move so slowly is that they are partly by design and partly due to the ever-increasing volume of cases. Judges don’t schedule oral arguments in about 80 percent of the cases and handle them administratively through the exchange of briefs. This process can take a long time because judges can’t get instant answers as they do in the structured atmosphere of a hearing.

Federal courts are overwhelmed with cases, but the judges consider each case on its merits because an appeal is actually a charge of wrongdoing against a judge, juror, law enforcement officer, or member of the prosecution team in the original trial. Judges don’t want to compound any errors by making further mistakes, so the entire transcript of the trial is reviewed.

The judges, prosecution, and defense need time to research the legal issues, find precedents, and consider the arguments. All this work takes time, and speeding up the process can lead to errors. Judges are human beings with limited time to devote to work. Even though they have assistants to perform research, each appellate judge handles hundreds of cases. Interspersed with handling appeals, judges also need time to schedule oral arguments and perform other duties.

What You Need to Know About Federal Appeals

When considering a federal appeal, it’s important to adjust your expectations. Most appeals take many months, or up to a year or more. It might seem as if the judges are making a simple decision on whether to overturn a judgment, but a lot of thought and investigation goes into each case. The law runs on precedents, and overturning a judgment on appeal sets precedents that could affect many other cases.

There are 94 districts where federal judges preside, and there are 12 Circuit Courts of Appeal that oversee appeals on the decisions of these 94 federal courts. Appeals courts normally hear appeals from courts in their districts and appeals from administrative agencies. Circuit courts also hear cases that originate in state courts if they involve charges that a defendant’s rights were violated by local laws or law enforcement actions. This is a lot of work for circuit courts, and the backlog of cases increases every day. The Ninth Circuit Court has the slowest closure rate of its appeals cases, at 17.4 months.

Digital technology can speed up the process to some degree, but judges must read the trial transcript, research legal precedents, and consult with teams from both sides. The process takes time and resources, so people considering appealing their cases should understand that the process is anything but simple. No matter how clever and creative your ideas might be, the legal system is based on precedents, and if there’s no legal precedent for your arguments, your appeal is unlikely to succeed. However, if your rights have been violated by jurors or officers of the court, your appeal can overturn the original judgment.

Trust Spodek Law Group for Your Federal Criminal Defense

At Spodek Law Group, we understand the emotional and professional toll that federal criminal charges can have on your life. We are dedicated to providing our clients with the best possible legal representation, and our experienced team of lawyers will fight for your rights and your freedom. Trust us to handle your case with the utmost professionalism and to work tirelessly to get you the best possible outcome. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.